1-29-19 SAFE Campaign 2019

"Chattanooga Police Officers respond to multiple fatal crashes each year where seat belt usage could have saved a life," said CPD Traffic Sergeant Justin Kilgore. "We encourage everyone to practice safe driving habits by buckling seatbelts and requiring everyone in the vehicle to do the same."

2019 will be the sixth year the THSO has sponsored the SAFE campaign. Last year yielded the following results:

· 1,182 child restraint violations

· 13,165 seat belt citations

· 305 other seat belt enforcement activities

“In 2017, Tennessee’s average seatbelt usage rate was 88.51 percent,” said THSO Director Vic Donoho. “Last year, the usage rate was 88.77 percent. Through increased education, enforcement, and community involvement, we're striving to achieve 100 percent."

This year, participating agencies will pay special attention to nighttime seatbelt enforcement. Tennessee has seen a disproportionate percentage of unrestrained fatalities between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. Historically, approximately fifty percent of Tennessee’s traffic fatalities are unbelted. That percentage increases to nearly sixty when nighttime crashes are examined.

For more information about the THSO, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.

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